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Voykit pocket guide · India
Hyderabad
హైదరాబాద్
Give Hyderabad 3 nights: one for the Old City and Charminar, one for Golconda, one for the museums and lake. Go Nov–Feb; skip Apr–Jun heat.
Hyderabad splits in two: the 16th-century Old City south of the Musi River, where the Charminar, bazaars and Nizam palaces sit, and the modern centre and western IT suburbs around Hussain Sagar. They are 30–60 minutes apart by metro or cab, so plan each day in one half rather than crossing back and forth. Three nights covers both without rushing; two nights works if you drop the museums.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- హైదరాబాద్
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Apr–Jun (40 °C+ heat), Jul–Oct monsoonApr–Jun (104 °F+ heat), Jul–Oct monsoon
- Stay
- 3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–3,000 excl. bed · Mid ₹3,000–6,000 excl. bed · High ₹6,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All emergencies 112 · Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Tourist helpline 1363
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Filter coffee or chai | ₹20–60 |
| Hyderabadi biryani (plate) | ₹250–500 |
| Thali or meals | ₹150–350 |
| 5 km app cab3.1 mi app cab | ₹150–250 |
| Metro ride | ₹10–60 (check) |
| Monument entry (Indian / foreign) | ₹25–40 / ₹300–500 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- HYD · Rajiv Gandhi International Airport
- At Shamshabad, about 22 km south of the centre. Pushpak airport buses run to Secunderabad, Miyapur, BHEL and MGBS; app cabs and a pre-paid taxi counter are outside arrivals.At Shamshabad, about 14 mi south of the centre. Pushpak airport buses run to Secunderabad, Miyapur, BHEL and MGBS; app cabs and a pre-paid taxi counter are outside arrivals.
Typical fares
- Airport → city centre, Pushpak bus
- ₹106–265 depending on stop, 45–90 min (check)
- Airport → Banjara Hills, app cab
- ₹800–1,200, about 45 min (check)
- Metro across the centre
- ₹10–60 (check)
Get around
The metro covers the centre, Secunderabad and HITEC City but not the Old City or Golconda. App cabs (Ola, Uber) are the default for everything else; agree the fare or use the meter. Pushpak buses link the airport to the city. MMTS suburban trains connect Secunderabad, Nampally and Lingampalli. Traffic is heavy from 09:00–11:00 and 17:00–20:00 — add 30 minutes.The metro covers the centre, Secunderabad and HITEC City but not the Old City or Golconda. App cabs (Ola, Uber) are the default for everything else; agree the fare or use the meter. Pushpak buses link the airport to the city. MMTS suburban trains connect Secunderabad, Nampally and Lingampalli. Traffic is heavy from 9:00 AM–11:00 AM and 5:00 PM–8:00 PM — add 30 minutes.
See and do
Known for
- Charminar and the Old City bazaars
- Golconda Fort
- Hyderabadi biryani
- Pearls and bangles shopping
- HITEC City and the IT suburbs
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Ramoji Film City | Cab or TSRTC bus from MGBS, about 1 h east of the centre | 1–1.5 h |
| Bhongir Fort | Train or cab to Bhongir, about 50 km east, then a steep 30-min climbTrain or cab to Bhongir, about 31 mi east, then a steep 30-min climb | 1.5 h |
| Warangal | Train from Secunderabad, about 2.5–3 h | 3 h |
| Medak | Cab or bus, about 100 km northwestCab or bus, about 62 mi northwest | 2 h |
Sleep
- Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills
- Central-west, upscale; restaurants, cafés and malls within walking distance. Best all-round base for a first trip.
- HITEC City and Gachibowli
- West, the IT hub; modern hotels and business travellers. Far from the Old City — 45–60 min by cab.
- Secunderabad and Begumpet
- North, near Secunderabad Junction and the airport bus routes; good for train connections and mid-range hotels.
- Old City (Charminar area)
- Cheap and atmospheric, but crowded, few good hotels and little evening choice. Visit by day, sleep elsewhere.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | నమస్కారం / نمستےnamaskaram / namaste |
| Thank you | ధన్యవాదాలుdhanyavadalu |
| How much is it? | ఎంత?entha? |
| Where is the toilet? | టాయిలెట్ ఎక్కడ ఉంది?toilet ekkada undi? |
| Please take me to this address | ఈ చిరునామాకు తీసుకెళ్లండిee chirunamaku teesukellandi |
| Can I pay by card? | కార్డ్ తో చెల్లించవచ్చా?card tho chellinchavacha? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer heat Apr–Jun can exceed 40 °C; plan indoor stops midday.
- Monsoon Jul–Oct brings heavy rain and flooded roads.
- Old City lanes are extremely crowded; keep bags in front and expect no pavements.
- Airport touts offer 'taxi' rides at inflated rates — use the pre-paid counter or an app.
- Some monuments charge separate camera fees; check at the ticket window.
Hyderabad is generally safe for tourists, including solo women in the central and western areas. The real risks are heat, traffic, Old City crowds and petty theft in bazaars — use app cabs at night and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hyderabad yet. Suggested stay: 3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Charminar and the Old City bazaars
- Golconda Fort
- Hyderabadi biryani
- Pearls and bangles shopping
- HITEC City and the IT suburbs
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Telangana Tourism: tourism.telangana.gov.in/
- Telangana State Road Transport Corporation: www.tsrtconline.in/
- Wikivoyage: Hyderabad, revision 5334489 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5334489
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hyderabadహైదరాబాద్
ఈ చిరునామాకు తీసుకెళ్లండి
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
The US has a consulate in Hyderabad (check the address); most other countries: consulates-general in Chennai or Mumbai, embassies in Delhi.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hyderabad). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.